THE worEN's SUPPORT NETWORK FINANCIAL STATEIMENTS FOR THE YfiAR EI NDED 31ST MARCH 2023 ( A COtVlPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL) COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER N1057580 CIIARITY REI GISTRATION NUMBER NIC 102763 O'HARA SEARER CHARTEI REI D ACCOUNTANTS AND STATUTORY AUDITORS 547 FALLS ROAD BELFAST BTII 9AB
THE WOMEN'S SUPPORT NETWORIC IINAN'CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2023 CONTII NTS Page Reference and Administaitive Information Triistees Annual Report (including the Statement of Directors Responsibilities in respect of financial statements) 2-10 Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members, 11-13 Accountin(Y Policies 14-16 Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating tile income and expendiÉiire account) 17 Balance Sheet Statement of Cash Flows 19 Notes to tlie Financial Statements 20-26
I'HE WOMEN'S SUPPORT i%'EITWORIC REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS AND FINANCIAL STATEMEN'TS FOR T14E YEAR Il NDED 31ST fvIARCH 2023 REFCI RENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE IN'FORMATION Direetors Tanya Hughes Susan Mccroiy Renee Crawford Eleanor Jordan Eileen Gay Sheiry-Binghain Isobel Loughran Secretary Retsee Ci'awford OpcratlOR21 Direetor Kai'en Sweeney Rei*Èstered Oftice 109-113 Royal Avenue Belfast County Antrim BTI IFF Auditors O'Hai-a Shearer Chartei'ed Accountants & Statutory Auditors 547 Falls Road Belfast, BTI 19AB Banliers AIB NI 11115 Done.11 Square Noith Belfast BTI 5GB COpanY Registration Number Nl 057580 Charity Commission for Northei'n Ircland Registratton Nuniber NIC 102763 HM Reveiiue & Custom5 Cliarity Registration Ni umber XR404I5 Registered Charity Name The Woinen's Support Network Page I
The Women's Su oirt Nehyork Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Directors, Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ort The trustees, who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their Trustees, Report with the audited Financial Statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)'Accounting and Reporting by Charities, 2015 applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in July 2014, effective l January 2015 tn preparing the trustees, report and financial statements of the charitable company, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors, report and accounts for company and charity law purposes. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Charity Commission for Northern Ireland Registration number NIC102763 Company Registration number N1057580 (Northern Ireland) HMRC Charity Registration number XR40415 Principal and Registered office Cathedral Quarter Managed Workspace, 109-113 Royal Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim, B T I I FF Trustees The trustees who served the charitable company during the year and up to the date of approval were as follows: Tanya Hughes Susan Mccrory Renee Crawford Eleanor Jordan Gay Sh¢rry-Bingham Isobel Loughran Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Renee Crawford Operational Director Karen Sweeney Auditor O'Hara Shearer Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors 547 Falls Road Belfast BTII 9AB Bankers AIB, I R-15 Donegall Square North, Belfast, BTI 5GB Page 2
The Women's Su ort Network Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Dii'ectors, Re for the Yeai" Ended 31 March 2023 ort continued REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS continued Insurance Brokers Willis Insurance & Risk Management Newsletter Building 55-59 Donegall Street Belfast BTI 2FH OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES WSN MISSION To advance women's equality and rights by working to influence policy, practice and provision while also regionally supporting and representing the interests, needs and perspectives of women, particularly those in poverty and in disadvantaged areas. WSN VISION To create a just and peaceful society devoid of gender discrimination, gender-based violence and women's rights vFolations, in which women from all backgrounds and communities Can experience full equality of opportunity and participation across all spheres of their everyday lives. The Women's Support Network (WSN) is an umbrella organisation providing support to the community- based woinen's sector e.g. women's centres, groups, projects and organisations. WSN provides information, support, resources, research and trdining to support these organisations in the delivery of services that increase opportunities for women that work towards the relief of poverty, address soctal exclusion, advance education and safeguard health for women in Northern Ireland, particularly in areas of disadvantage. WSN actively campaigns, lobbies, carries out research and supports funding bids on key issues affecting women, namely health, poverty, childcare and education. WSN Collates the views of women to inforni policy development and articulate concerns and areas of need to funders, government departments, statutory organisations and elected representatives highlighting local key Issues that impact directly on women in identified areas. WSN advocates for requisite resources to facilitate the sustainability and expansion of women-only, women- led spaces and provision underpinned by free childcare. WSN facilitates the sharing of information, good practice and, where possible. resources between women's centres, groups and organisations, developing an online presence to accommodate same. WSN supports women's centres, groups and organisations to work together collectively and strategically, not only for the benefit of women in disadvantaged areas but also to promote women's equality and rights across Northern Ireland and beyond. WSN acts as a first point of contact that signposts women in disadvantaged and rural communities to services, advice and inforn]ation relevant to their particular needs and interests. WSN is a partner in the Women's Regional Consortium. The Consortium is funded by the Department for Communities (Dfc) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). Through the Regional Infrastructure and Support Programme (RISP), the Consortium provides thematic regional support for women's sector organisations across Northerli Ireland, which meet the needs of marginalised and isolated women in disadvantaged and rural areas. Page 3
The Women's Su oi't Network Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin DKrectors' Re ror the Year Ended 31 March 2023 continued OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES continued The Consortium is made up of seven established women's organisations: WSN, Training for WomenNetwork (TWN), Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIR WN), Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA), Foyle Women's Information Network (FWFN), Women's TEC and The Women's Centre Deny. These organisations work in partnership to provide specialist support, advice, information and training on a range of topics to increase capacity, skills, physical resources and structures to benefit women in Northern Ireland. The Consortium also operates as the link and point of contact between government and the sector to meet the needs of recommendations resulting from consultations, surveys and policy developments that impact on women. WSN is responsible for the co-ordination of policy and research within the Consortium. WSN has responsibility forthe distribution of funding and collective monitoring of activities delivered through Belfast Health & Social Care Trust to the five women's cenlres in the Belfast catchment area. This funding provides support for children and their familieslcarers, addressing specific needs in terms of personal development, training, improved physical and mental health outcomes, reduced stress and anxiety, advocacy, efyicacy including sponsored and referred childcare. Throughout the year the women's centres provided support and advocacy for women and families impacted by isolation and disadvantaged across the catchment area including those still experiencing residual impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. ACHIEVEMENfs AND PERFORMANCE Over the past twelve months, WSN has continued to engage in a range of activities to raise the proflle of women's organisations and women's issues and to support women's organisations in the delivery of front-line services for women in disadvantaged and rural areas. WSN continued to support marginalised women and groups to ensure that their voices were heard and views taken and relayed to decision-makers throughout the year on various issues that impact women and the organisations supporting them including the impact of the 'cost of living crisis,. We have continued to lobby and campaign on behalf of individual women, community- based women's centres, groups and organisations. Regular newsletters, e-zines and funding bites support organisations through the provision of inforn]ation, funding, policy updates and training opportunities. WSN have continued to host regular on-line and in-person women's centres, managers, meetings to facilitate networking, sharing of good practise in their continued support for women in each of their perspective communities across Northern Ireland. These meettngs are an opportunity for the centre managers to discuss key issues that impact the sector and delivery of support services for women and children and how these can best be addressed and adapted including the provision of childcare. The key issues of concern for the centres in this year continued to be pressures associated with the continuing rise in the 'cost of living, and the pressure this was putting on staff and budgets as operating costs continued to rise as did the demand for their services, such as delivery of training and education, specialist advice, support and advocacy. Over this period WSN continued as a member of the 'Co-design' working groups for both the Gender Equality and Anti- Poverty Social Strategies to ensure that these documents would be as advanced as possible when the Assembly returned and Ministers were reinstated. As a member of the Women's Regional Consortium, WSN is responsible for co-ordination of policy and research on issues that impact on women in disadvantaged and rural areas. Focus groups, consultation events, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were undertaken to garner the views of women in these areas to inform the responses/research and ensure that local women were afforded an opportunity to have tlieir views put forward.
The Women's Su oi* Network Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Directors, Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ort continued ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE continued In February 2022, the then 'First Minister, resigned which resulted in the suspenston of the Northern Ireland Executive, however Departmental Minsters remained in place as 'caretakers' until an Asseinbly election was called for 05 May 2022. Following the election, the Executive failed to nominatelagree a 'Speaker' which resulted in the Assembly unable to sit, which is how it COTRtinued for the remainder of this financial year. This resulted in a stalling of all proposed legislation and draft strategies. Over the year WSN made seven responses to consultations, reviews and calls for evidence that directly impact women in Northern Ireland. The departmental/governmental/committee policy responses submitted in this year were as follows: 16106122 - Call for evidence on 'Cost of Living, Work and Pensions Committee 30106122 Adult Social Care consultation." Departinent of Health (DOH) 26/10122 - '1 OX Performance Management Framework, consultation: Departmcnt for the Economy (DfE) 21111122 - CFNE/SCI Consultation of Philanthropic Funding in Nl 19112122 - Miscarriage Leave Consultation: Department for the Economy(DfE) 09101123 - Inadequacy of Benefits to the APPG on Poverty (Westminster) 23101123 - Call for Evidence on a Debt Respite Scheme for Northern Ireland: Department for Communities (Dfc) The 'Women Living With Debt, research completed and published in this financial year explored the experiences of women living and working in disadvantaged and rural areas of Northern Ireland on why they need to borrow, the types of credit they use, the impact of external factors such as the Covid 19 pandemic, changes to social security policy and low pay as well as the personal impacts of living with debt. The paper takes a comprehensive look at the literature and research on debt, debt levels in Northern Ireland the links between debt and mental health, debt and social security benefits and the gendered nature of debt. The research provides a summary of the focus group research, questionnaires and individual interviews with local woInen. It detailed the amount and type of debt the women had, what external factors impact on their debts and the impact of debt on their lives and that of their children. The main findings of the research were: 51 % of the women had used high-cost credit with 60/0 borrowing through loan sharks includÈng paramilitaries. 320/0 reported borrowing from friends/family. 190/0 had borrowed through Discretionary Support with many reporting issues with the application processleligibility. 51 0/0 chose the lender because they knew they would get the money with only 20/0 choosing the lender because of the total cost of the credit. 60Q/o of the women were finding it difficult to meet their debt repayments or missing repayments 350/0 reported using a foodbank as a result of debtslpressure to make ends meet 600/0 reported debt had been iinpacted by rising energy bills 600/0 reported debt had been impacted by rising food bills 720/0 felt negatively impacted by being in debt 47 % felt their childreii were negatively impacted by their debts Page 5
Tlie Women's Su ort Nehyork Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Directors, Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ort continued The research highlights the difficulty many women face living on a low income through social security benefits and in low paid work. The paper makes a number of recominendations for change including the need io invest in the social security systein to ensure it provides sufficient income to help people live dignified, healthy lives without resorting to debt for the essentials. It also calls for the need for low or no cost borrowing to help those on the lowest incomes meet the costs of essential items. High-cost credit products are often used by those on the lowest incomes in order to access credit. Many of these borrowers have limited options to access cheaper forms of credit because of their low income. This forces them to use these high interest products to buy essential goods and larger purchases that they otherwise could not afford. Soine of the most vulnerable borrowers are forced into using illegal lending or loan sharking because of a more urgent need for money. In Northern Ireland this type of lending is often linked to paramilitary groups bringing with it even greater levels of fear and secrecy. Following completion, circulation and promotion ofthe 'Women Living with Debt, research, WSN was invited to make a number of presentations, attend meetings and give interviews on the findings of the research. These included. meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Shadow Secretary of State, MLAS and MPS from all five main political parties, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Anti-Poverty Network and Human Rights Consortium. The research attracted media attention resulting in interviews and articles on television. radio and print including" UTV'S 'A View from Stormont". BBC'S Good Morning Ulster, Talkback, Radio Foyle, The Irtsh News, The Newsletter, The Detail and View Digital. Conference presentations included NIPSA Health & Safety Conference, Women's Budget Group 4-Nations Conference, Funders Forum Annual Conference, also NIWEP Webinar, APG on 1325 Women Peace and Security and a Human Rights Consortium event. In the latter half of this year in partnership with Ulster University research began on 'Women's Experiences of the Cost-of-Living Crisis in N. Ireland,. The cumulative results of the.Cost-of-Living Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and a decade of welfare reforni and austerity has left women to become the shock absorbers of poverty in their homes - forced to make torturous decisions around feeding themselves and their families, heating their homes and trying to live dignified, healthy lives. For those in most need there are significant concerns around rising levels of debt, poverty and destitution. This situation led us to carry out research with low income women on tlieir experiences of the Cost-of-Living Crisis and its impact on their lives and families. The research's aim is to paint an accurate picture of women's lives which are increasingly occupied with hunger, cold, debt, anxiety and concerns. Focus groups were held across Northern Ereland from Jan-mar 2023 which resulted in two hundred and fify women participating in the research. WSN is a regular attender and contributory member of the Women's Policy Group Northern Ireland, a plarfomi for woinen working in policy and advocacy roles in different organisations to share their work and speak with a collective voice on key issues. It is made up of women from trade unions, grassroots women's or(yanisations, women's networks, feininist campaigning organisations, LGBT+ organisations, support service providers, human rights and equality organisations and individuals. WSN continues to support the development and delivery of the Rape Crisis service forNorthern Ireland which is funded by both the ROSAUK Justice and Equality Fund and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT). Another cohort of volunteer support workers completed training and another group recruited, the training taking place both online and in-person. Ongoing recruitment and training is essential to meet the ever increasing demand for the service and to replace support workers who leave or take a break. The Freephone Information and Support Line continued opening four evening with the service contactable at any time via email or voiceinail. Relationships and referral routes continued to grow through stakeholder organisations working with those impacted by rape and sexual assault such as ASSIST Nl, the PSNI, the ROWAN (SARC), Nexus and Victim Support. Awareness raisiniy and promotion of the service through social Inedia platfonns and in-person was ongoing, speaking at conferences, community events as well as providing information stalls. Page 6
The Women's Su ort Nehyork Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Directors, Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 continued ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE continued As a member of the 'The Cliff Edge Coalition Nl, working group WSN continued to lobby to strengthen the welfare Initigations package in Northern Ireland. 'The Cliff Edge Coalition Nl, is a group of over l 00 organisations from across Northern Ireland who came together to highlight their shared concerns about the potential end of the welfare reform mitigations. The focus of Cliff Edge work in this year has been on strengthening the mitigations package with the introduction of new mitigations around the two-child liiiiit, the Universal Credit five-week wait and increased protections for those in the private rented sector. Cliff Edge welcomed the publication of the delayed Wclfare Mitigation Review and its strong recommendations which mirrored many of the strengthening and additional asks of the Cliff Edge Coalition. WSN also attended meetings of 'Keep the Lifeline, to discuss ways in which changes can be made to the social security system to help people through the, Cost of Living Crisis,. This resulted in WSN attending a briefing to discuss a new joint campaign between the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust calling for reform of Universal Credit. WSN has continued to be an active member of the 'Childcare for All, campaign and attends the All Party Working Group (APWG) on Early Education and Childcare, a successful ask of the campaign. The campaign continues to call for universal, child-centred affordable, accessible childcare that meets the needs of children, families, childcare workers and providers. WSN ensures that community based childcare provlsion delivered through local women's centres and groups is represented in including those places funded through the Women's Centres, Childcare Fund (WCCF). Throughout the year WSN also represented the ¢entres and community based child¢are model on the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Engagement Forum for the development of an 'Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, for Northern Ireland. In this year WSN join¢d the working group of a new Northem Ireland campaign for the introduction of a Northern Ireland Child Payment. This was a recommendation by the Gender Equality and Anti-Poverty Expert Panels and reiterated in the Feminist Recovery Plan. The Coalition prepared a briefing document on a potential Nl Child Payment gathering evidence from academics, the Scottish model and advice organisations on what forn]at a Child Payment might take and what way it would work best here. The working group members met with political parties and Departmental officials to discuss how it could work in practice and be costed for. Work is ongoing on research into public attitudes to child poverty which will be used to frame campaigning work around a Child Payment for Northern Ireland. WSN continued its partnership with the Women's Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) as lead partner, Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIRWN) and Reclaim the Agenda (RTA) for the Raise Your Voice Project and campaign (RYV). This project informs and raises awareness of all fornis and degrees of sexual harassment, working collectively to create true cultural change in order to tackle the root causes of these behaviours and empower people to make real society change. Delivery of the initial two workshops continued both online and in-person throughout the year as well as lobbying and consultation responses. A further three workshops covering 'online harassment,, 'ally ship, and 'by-stander intervention, have been developed for delivery in the next financial year. The project continues to strengthen its presence through social media platforn]s, poster campaign, e~zines and website content and resources. WSN'S partnership in the 'Labyrinth Project, funded through the UK Tampon Tax with SOLAS UK as lead partner continued until December 2022. This was a UK wide project and WSN were th¢ delivery partner for Northern Ireland. As part of the project WSN produced a mapping report on areas of the women's sector across Northern Ireland, identifying gaps in specialist support and training opportunities to inform the delivery element of the project. The project incorporated trainers and legal experts who developed information guides and a suite of free online training for organisational staff, voliinteers and centrelgroup users. The project also set up an online 'Centre of Excellence". on the SOLAS UK Website for sharing of best practise. Page 7
The Women's Su ort Network Acom an limited b uarantee ort of the Trustees includin Dii"ectors' Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 oirt continued WSN agaÉn partnered with WRDA and NIRWN for delivery of a UK Coinmunity Renewal Fund (UKCRF) pilot project in preparation for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which was approved in November 2021. The project cominenced in January 2022 with an end date of 30 June 2022 later extended to 30 Septeinber with wrap-up until 31 December 2022. The overall Fund's aims were to invest in skills, coininunity and place, local business, and support people into employment. The 'Women Breaking Barriers, project proposed to deliver traininiF and employinent skills to 350 women across urban and rural areas of Northern Ireland, delivered through women's centres and trroups. Delivery of this short pilot project resulted in the following: 551 women attended a programme delivered through the project A total of 668 places were funded There was a totsl of 61 programmes delivered across the timespan 276 women benefitted from one to one and group support sessions, including CV writing skills, benefits calculator support, employability sktlls and job interview preparation. 61 /0 of courses delivered were accredited with 325 women receiving an accreditation Out of these courses 52 /0 were delivered in urban areas and 48 % in rural locations Women in Filtn Event hosted - the first of its kind in Nl with over 40 participants, reaching a global audience and with a range of speakers from the Film Industry In June 2021 WSN agreed to be a strategic partner in an application to Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Reconciliation Fund, led by Women's Platforn] (formally NIWEP) and in partnership with NIRWN and WRDA who have responsibility for key delivery areas. The ' Women's Spaces, application was successful with delivery now ongoing from June 2022 until June 2025. The projcct is designed to give women the skills and capacity to engage in public life and strengthen women's voices in peace-building and decision making. The project will deliver a serious of workshops as well as develop a 'toolkit' on women, peace and security that will inforn] and enhance further training and workshops through a collective of programmes, tools and inforniation. WSN in partnership with WRDA as lead, NIRWN and Reclaim the Agenda made an application to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of the UK Levelling Up initiative under the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing and as a follow-up to the UKCRF Women Breaking Barriers project. The overarching UKSPF intervention for Northern Ireland is Supporting economically Inactive people to overcome barr&ers to work by providing cohesive, locally tailored support including access to basic skills,. The application was submitted at the end of January 2023 and the partnership learned of its success on 31 March 2023. The two year project aims to deliver specific tallored support to 600 economically inactive women across urban and rural settings. WSN are responsible for the urban delivery working in partnership with seven women's centres and other urban groups while NIRWN will be responsible for rural delivery. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial Position The accounts on pages 17-19 deal with all the income and expenditure of the charitable company, as well as its financial position at the year end. Principal funding sources supporting key objectives of the charitable company and funding both charitable activity and support costs are shown at notes 1- 6 (pages. 20-21). The results for the year show an unrestricted surplus of £10,021 (2022: 10,660) and a restricted surplus of £10,235 (2022: £6,252) producing an overall surplus of £20,256 (2022.. £16.650). At the year-end unrestricted reserves were £52,135 (2022: £42,114) and restricted reserves £30,157 (2022: £19,992). Page 8
The Women's Su ort Network Acom limited b uarantee an ort of the Trustees includin Direetors, Re for the Year Ei nded 31 March 2023 ort continued Reserves policy In line with good practice The Women's Support Network aiins to build and retain a level of unrestricted reserves that match the needs of the organisation both at the current time and in the future to meet statutory obligations for both staff and suppliers in these times of funding uncertainty. These include: Statutory Redundancy Salaries and Pensions Organisational Running Costs Reserves will be monitored on an ongoing basis by the Finance and Personnel Trustee sub-group and an overview presented by the Operational Director at Trustee Board meetings to ensure the progress towards target level. Risk management The Board have assessed the major risks to which the charitable company is exposed, An particular those related to its operations and finances, and are satisfied that systems arc in place to mitigate any exposure to those major risks. Going concern After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charitable company has adequatc resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14 December 2005. The company was established under a Memorandum of Assoctation which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Associatlon. Organisational structure The Women's Support Network is overseen by a Board of Directors which meets at least six times a year. The Board is responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation and oversees the management of the organisation. The day-to-day management and operation of activities are carried out by a staff team led by the Director who reports reaularly to the Board. Recruitment and Appointment of Board of Directors The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's Articles are known as the Board. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the members of the Board are elected from the membership to serve for a period of three years after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Directors have complied with the duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's statutory guidance on the public benefit requirement issued under the Charities Act (Nl) 2008. Page 9
The Women's Su ort Networli Acom limited b uarantee an ort of the Trustees includin Directors, Re for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ort continued STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The trustees (who are also the directors of The Women's Support Network for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial stateinents in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company lami requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the chariÉable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102)" make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent" state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject Éo any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presutne that th¢ charitable company will conlinLie in bustness. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position ofthe charitable company and enable ihem to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets ofthe charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the trustees are aware: there is no relevant audit inforniation of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware. and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is awaTe of that information. AUDITORS As per procurement procedures this will be put out to tender and agreed at the next AGM. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 22nd January 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Gay Sherry-Bingham - Trustee Page 10